Netball: Barbados claim to be butt of bias

By Richard Boock

CHRISTCHURCH - Umpires have copped another serve at the world netball championships over an alleged no-butts policy towards Caribbean players.

Barbados coach Anna Shepherd yesterday reignited the row over officiating at this tournament, accusing umpires of penalising Caribbean players for the size of their "butts," and of being duped into having pre conceived ideas about some teams.

Speaking after Barbados were beaten 71-35 by the Silver Ferns yesterday, Shepherd joined Jamaican coach Maureen Hall in alleging bias at the 10th world championships, and demanded the issue be addressed to ensure the future of netball in the Caribbean, and the integrity of the game worldwide.

"We're being penalised for the size of our butts," said an animated Shepherd when the issue was raised.

"Our players are being told to not use their butts. What are they supposed to do? Leave them on the ground?

"Players from our region might have a different shape and style from others but no one can play without their butts. It's impossible."

Shepherd stopped short of accusing officials of racial bias but alleged discrimination in the way umpires perceived and controlled games involving Caribbean teams, and in their vigilance to clamp down on any sign of physical contact.

She said the prejudice and propaganda meant she was now telling her players to feign injury at every contact, in order to remind match officials there were two sides in the match.

"But this sort of thing is killing the sport," she said "Netball needs all the Caribbean teams and all the African sides. It can't do without us.

"It was bad enough four years ago when a lot of Caribbean players felt like quitting after the Birmingham experience, and now it's happening again."

Meanwhile, Jamaica are still incensed about the sin binning of wing-defence Sharon Wiles against Australia, apparently for persistent offending.

The Jamaican Netball Association president, Molly Rhone, is expected to outline some official concerns in a press conference today.